In MR, a vena contracta width greater than 7 mm generally indicates which severity?

In MR, a vena contracta width greater than 7 mm generally indicates which severity?

• A. Severe MR
• B. Moderate MR
• C. Mild MR
• D. No MR

Answer: (A)

Vena contracta width reflects the size of the regurgitant orifice—the wider the jet at its narrowest point just after the orifice, the larger the leak. A width greater than 7 mm indicates a large regurgitant orifice and is classically used to define severe mitral regurgitation. In typical grading: mild MR shows a narrow vena contracta (well under 3 mm), moderate MR around 3–7 mm, and no MR is essentially 0 mm. So the measurement exceeds the threshold that distinguishes severe MR, making it the best choice. In practice, this measurement is part of a broader assessment that includes other Doppler data, but the >7 mm criterion strongly points to severe MR.

Vena contracta width reflects the size of the regurgitant orifice—the wider the jet at its narrowest point just after the orifice, the larger the leak. A width greater than 7 mm indicates a large regurgitant orifice and is classically used to define severe mitral regurgitation. In typical grading: mild MR shows a narrow vena contracta (well under 3 mm), moderate MR around 3–7 mm, and no MR is essentially 0 mm. So the measurement exceeds the threshold that distinguishes severe MR, making it the best choice. In practice, this measurement is part of a broader assessment that includes other Doppler data, but the >7 mm criterion strongly points to severe MR.